Fill in the blank with the most appropriate option:
When Papa was in college, the city library ______ only one reading room, and students often stood in a queue for a seat.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → used to have
“Used to” for a past state:
- Its form is used to + base form.
- It shows a state or habit in the past that is no longer true.
- Here “have” means “own” or “contain”.
- That is a state, not an action.
- Clue word: “When Papa was in college”.
- The library had one reading room then, not now.
- Complete sentence: When Papa was in college, the city library used to have only one reading room, and students often stood in a queue for a seat.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: would have — Incorrect.
- “Would” + base form shows an action repeated in the past, like a habit.
- It is not used for a state such as having or owning.
- Example: Every evening, Nani would tell us a story.
Option 2: was having — Incorrect.
- “Was having” is the past continuous.
- Verbs of owning, like have and own, do not take -ing.
- “Have” takes -ing only when it means an action, such as eating.
- Example: We were having lunch when the guests came.
Option 3: has had — Incorrect.
- “Has had” is the present perfect: has + past participle (V3).
- It joins the past with now, but “When Papa was in college” is a finished time.
- Example: Our school has had a science lab since 2022.